The Sporting News, Lindy's Rank Wesley Third, Mayes Leads Honors

DOVER, Del. - Both the Sporting News and Lindy's Sports have ranked Wesley College third in their 2011 college football preview publications.

Individually, senior Chris Mayes (Waldorf, Md./Westlake) led three Wolverines on the Preseason All-America teams and was named the Division III Preseason Defensive Player of the Year by Lindy's.

In 2010, Mayes notched 17.5 sacks and 32.5 tackles for loss in 13 games to go along with 45 solo tackles and three forced fumbles.

He was joined on the Lindy's 2011 All-Division III First Team Defense by senior linebackers Mike Asiedu (Yonkers, N.Y./Gorton) and Jeff Morgan (Vineland, N.J./Vineland). Asiedu made 78 stops, batted down 10 passes and had 10.5 tackles for loss. Morgan ended the year with 82 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and three interceptions.

All three players were named All-Americans by D3football.com after the season, while Mayes also earned accolades from the American Football Coaches Association and the Associated Press.

Wesley had more first team selections on the Lindy's squad than any other school and tied Cal Lutheran and Alfred for the most overall selections.

Among teams on Wesley's 2011 schedule, Division III rival Salisbury was chosen as a team to watch by The Sporting News and Division I FCS opponent Charleston Southern was picked fifth in the Big South Conference. Lindy's, meanwhile, picked the Buccaneers sixth in the conference.

Last season, Wesley advanced to the NCAA Playoffs for the sixth straight year and moved on to the national semifinals for the fourth time during the run. The Wolverines, who won the Lambert Meadowlands and ECAC Team of the Year Awards, also picked up their sixth consecutive ACFC title and ninth overall, finishing the year with a 12-1 record.

Wesley opens the 2011 season when East Texas Baptist visits Scott D. Miller Stadium on September 3.